| So he popped the question...now what? | | | | wedding date until you have officially booked your |
| If you're among the nearly one million brides-to-be | | | | venue with a signed contract. Find as many |
| who received an engagement ring over the | | | | reception sites that meet your budget, capacity |
| holidays, it's time to ring in the new year by | | | | and overall style quotient as you can. Use our |
| scratching the first few items off your wedding | | | | wedding reception site search to find venues in |
| day "to do" countdown. Kick start your 2009 | | | | your area, and narrow down your list. Then |
| wedding plans now! | | | | schedule appointments to tour each wedding |
| Here are the first three items that you must | | | | venue and meet with the manager. |
| cross off your wedding planning checklist before | | | | Step 3: Start the Guest List |
| you can accomplish anything else. | | | | You don't need to have the list finalized just yet, |
| Step 1: Determine Your Budget | | | | but you'll need an estimate from both sides of the |
| Your budget will determine the type of wedding | | | | family (and yourselves) right away to avert |
| you can have - from how many guests you | | | | countless planning headaches down the road. Once |
| invite, to where and when you host your | | | | you've talked with all financially contributing parties |
| wedding, right down to the specific blooms in your | | | | to determine your total wedding budget, you can |
| bouquet, so you need to start here. Sit down | | | | estimate how many people you can afford to |
| with everyone who is going to contribute to the | | | | invite to the affair. |
| wedding-day piggy bank and discuss how to | | | | Now that you've tackled the first three steps, this |
| logically divide the tab and arrive at a total | | | | complete wedding planning guide will walk you |
| number. | | | | every step of the planning process, from setting |
| Step 2: Find a Site and Set Your Date | | | | the theme and style, to booking your vendors, to |
| Remember - many reception sites book over a | | | | managing every detail. |
| year in advance, so you really can't decide on a | | | | |